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Smith, Christopher Dale

Research Scientist 2Natural Resources DeptPope CountyFull-time

Fish - HD & Implementation. Minnesota state employee pay history, from State of Minnesota salary data.

Total paid
$730,068
over 13 fiscal years
Latest year
$84,536
FY 2026
Highest year
$84,536
FY 2026
Yearly average
$56,159
across years on record
Change since first year
+307%
FY 2014 to FY 2026 · prices +39%

Pay by fiscal year

Total paid across all records in each year, overtime included, compared with consumer prices.

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K2014201620182020202220242026
Paid in yearFY 2014 pay grown with consumer prices (CPI)

From FY 2014 to FY 2026, pay went up 307% while consumer prices went up 39%. After inflation, pay is up 192% (it beat inflation).

YearPaidChangePrices (CPI)After inflation
FY 2026$84,536+5.3%+3.1%+2.1%
FY 2025$80,308+8.2%+2.6%+5.4%
FY 2024$74,212+7.0%+3.3%+3.6%
FY 2023$69,326+14.1%+6.3%+7.4%
FY 2022$60,752+7.6%+7.2%+0.4%
FY 2021$56,462+4.3%+2.3%+2.0%
FY 2020$54,110+5.7%+1.6%+4.1%
FY 2019$51,191+5.8%+2.1%+3.6%
FY 2018$48,394+5.6%+2.3%+3.2%
FY 2017$45,848+6.0%+1.8%+4.1%
FY 2016$43,262+5.8%+0.7%+5.1%
FY 2015$40,874+96.6%+0.7%+95.2%
FY 2014$20,793———

Each change compares a year with the one before. Large swings usually come from a partial year, extra hours or a change of job rather than a raise. Prices: Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, U.S. city average) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, averaged July to June; FY 2026 uses 11 months because October 2025 was not published.

Compared with the same job title

FY 2026 · Research Scientist 2

Paid more than 31% of the 150 people with this job title that year. The median was $95,790.

Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.

See everyone with this job title

Every record

13 records, newest first

FYAgencyJob titleCountyBase payOvertimePaid
2026Natural Resources Dept
Fish - HD & Implementation
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Pope$41.43 /hr—$84,536
2025Natural Resources Dept
Fish - HD & Implementation
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Pope$39.34 /hr—$80,308
2024Natural Resources Dept
Fish - HD & Implementation
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Pope$36.34 /hr—$74,212
2023Natural Resources Dept
Fish - HD & Implementation
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Pope$33.30 /hr—$69,326
2022Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$29.19 /hr—$60,752
2021Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$27.56 /hr—$56,462
2020Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$25.94 /hr—$54,110
2019Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$24.53 /hr—$51,191
2018Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$23.22 /hr—$48,394
2017Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$21.98 /hr—$45,848
2016Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$20.76 /hr—$43,262
2015Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$19.58 /hr—$40,874
2014Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Glenwood Staff
NR Spec Fisheries
Full-time
Pope$18.45 /hr—$20,793

The state reports one pay total per person per year, covering all of their positions, so it appears on one of that year’s lines and the others show no separate pay.

Highest paid in Natural Resources Dept

FY 2026, amount paid

Highest paid as Research Scientist 2

FY 2026, amount paid